Apparatus for uniformly feeding cut tobacco to the rod-forming mechanism of cigarette-making machines



Aug. 13, 1929.

H. SCHUNEMANN Filed NOV. 23, 1927 FORMING MECHANISM OF CIGARETTE MAKING MACHINES APPARATUS FOR UNIEORMLY FEEDING CUT TOBACCO TO THE ROD INVENTUR fi-l c me m m;

Patented Aug. 13, 1929.

UNHTED STATES HEINRICH SGHTTNEMANN, OF SPANDAU, GERMANY, ASSIGNOR TO MESSRS. NEUER- BUR SCHE VERWALTUNGSGESELLSCHAFT M.

B. IEL, GEREONSHAUS, OF COLOGNE,

GERMANY, A CORPORATION OF GERMANY.

APPARATUS FOR UNIFORMLY FEEDING CUT TOBACCO TO THE ROD-FORMING MECHA- NISM OF CIGARETTE-MAKING MAGHINES.

Application filed November 23, 1927, Serial No. 235,315, and in Germany April 23,

The means hitherto employed for feeding the cut tobacco to the rod forming tape of cigarette machines have presented the dis advantage that the feed is not uniform, but is subject to considerable fluctuations, as 13 evidenced by a considerable difference in the weight of the finished cigarettes.

The present invention has for its object a process by means of which it is possible to overcome this disadvantage.

The essence of the present process is comprised in the circumstance that the cut tobacco which has previously been loosened as much as possible in a suitable device is fed first of all into a slide that oscillates vertically. The cut tobacco at the end of this slide, in which it lies in a fairly large layer, owing to the oscillating motion is received by a pin roller to which the same oscillating motion is imparted and which constricts the exit of the slide, so that this pin roller is always charged with a uniformly thick layer of cut tobacco, even when there are certain differences in the uniformity of the feed of the tobacco to the slide. From this pin roller and by means of a pin roller of larger diameter, which rotates at a greater speed but does not oscillate, a uniformly thin layer is drawn and then fed by suitable means to the rod forming belt.

A sectional elevation of a form of apparatus for carrying out the present process is shown in the accompanying drawings.

The thoroughly loosened tobacco is first of all transferred to a vertical slide 1. The cross section of this slide 1 is a flat rectangle. The slide is movably suspended on parallel fiat springs 2. The lower outlet of the slide is closed by means of a pin roller 6. A vertical oscillating movement is imparted to the slide and to the pin roller. For this purpose an eccentric 7 is provided, which by means of a connecting rod 8, and a cross head 9, imparts reciprocatory motion to a connecting rod 10.

This connecting rod slides in a guide 13 attached to the slide 1. Tensioned springs 11 and 12 are arranged on both sides of the guide 13 between collars 14L adjustable on the connecting rod 10. The tension of the springs can be varied by means of the collars 14:. In addition to this the container 1 is fitted with a leather lined distance piece 3 which is arranged opposite to a counter distance piece 4: that can be adjusted by means of a screwed spindle F. The slide 1 which is operated by the eccentric 7 by means of the springs 11, 12, receives through the counter distance piece 1 and in accordance with its adjustment, an earlier or later limit of lift movement, so that a harder or softer impact of the slide ensues. The pin roller 6 is revolubly supported in the side cheeks of the slide 1, and is simultaneously rotated so that it not only has an oscillating motion but also rotates and thereby draws the tobacco deposited owing to the oscillating motion in a fairly thick layer in the outlet of the slide 1 in a layer the thickness of which corresponds to the length of a peg. This compact layer is then received by a rotating but non-oscillatory pin roller having a greater peripheral. speed, or if of the same diameter rotating at the same speed roller 6. This latter pin roller is indicated by 15' in the drawing, the layer of tobacco being held fast between the pins by means of wire springs such as 19.

The reduction of the density of the layer of tobacco passing from roller (3 to roller 15 is of special importance for securing a uniform spreading of the tobacco. In accordance With this reduced thickness of the layer the pins of the roller 15 should be dimensioned in proportion to the roller 6. The tobacco is transferred from the roller 15 by means of a drum 16 on to the conveyor belt 17 and into the rod forming channel 18.

It must be pointed out that endless pin belts can also be used in the place of the rotating pin rollers for drawing the tobacco from the oscillating slide, and that likewise by connecting up several pin rollers of different peripheral speed one behind the other, a further reduction in the thickness of the layer of tobacco supplied by the pin roller 6 to the rod belt can be effected.

Claims: 1. Apparatus for uniformly feeding cut tobacco to the rod forming belt or cigarette machines, comprising a substantially perpendicular hollow chute open at the opposite ends thereof, means for feeding the cut tobacco to the upper end of the chute, means for imparting reciprocating movement to said chute in the direction of its length, a rotating pin roller mounted on said chute and closing the lower open end thereof adapted to move up and doWn with said chute and to remove the tobacco from the lower end of said chute and to convey it therefrom.

2. Apparatus for uniformly feeding cut tobacco to the rod forming belt of cigarette machines as claimed in claim 3 and in combination therewith of a rotating pin roller receiving the tobacco from said first mentioned roller, said second pin roller having a greater peripheral speed than said first roller and said second pin roller delivering said tobacco to the rod forming belt.

HEINRICH SGHUNEMANN. 

